Verna Jane Shedd Curry, of Winona Lake, passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at Grace Village Health Care in Winona Lake at the age of 93.
She was born on June 19, 1931, in Framingham, Mass., to Marshall and Alice Taylor Shedd, the oldest of five children. The Shedd family lived in several New England communities but settled in Canaan Center, N.H. Verna graduated from Canaan High School in 1949, after which she attended North East Bible Institute in Framingham, Mass. She worked in children’s evangelistic work until entering Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y., in the fall of 1956, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. She taught elementary school music in East Aurora, N.Y., until 1963.
From 1963-1965 she served as a volunteer with the Peace Corps in Columbia, South America, training teachers. Returning to the States, she attended Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, and received a Master of Science degree in education.
Verna moved to Washington, D.C., and taught special education until she met and married Eugene Curry on June 19, 1970. She then taught special education in Glenn Dale, Md. Upon Eugene’s retirement from the Department of the Navy, they moved to Ridgecrest, Calif., where Verna taught special education and later regular elementary classes until her retirement. While in Ridgecrest, Verna was active in the Christ the King Anglican Church as organist, vocal soloist, worship team leader and Bible Study member. She directed Vacation Bible School at her church several summers.
Eugene passed away in March of 2017, and in May 2018 Verna moved to Grace Village in Winona Lake to be closer to her youngest sister, Rhoda Shedd Palmer.
Verna will be lovingly remembered by her two sisters, Pauline Shedd, Winona Lake; Rhoda (Clif) Palmer, Warsaw; and her sister-in-law, Shirley Shedd, Springfield, Mo. Also surviving are one niece and four nephews, as well as 12 great-nieces and five great-nephews. Verna will also be missed by many cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and two brothers, Arthur Glenroy Shedd and Allen Shedd.
Verna’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, in the Grace Village Chapel officiated by Pastor Ralph Porter. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
A service will be held at the Christ the King Anglican Church in Ridgecrest, Calif. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin, Calif. Arrangements were entrusted to Holland & Lyons Mortuary, 216 S. Norma St., Ridgecrest, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, Verna has requested that memorial donations be directed to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, IN 46590.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.